r, but I confess that I have always had a weakness for the
wit that stings.

Well, it did not actually come to that. They allowed me to draw a
couple of pounds in advance at the office. I suppose they know that
when they have got a good man it is worth while to stretch a point to
keep him. Not that I was at all dictatorial--apparently I asked it as a
favour. But I fancy our manager saw that I was not a man to be played
with.

Eliza's mother dined with us, and brought a couple of ducks.
Conscience, I should say.

At the moment of writing my financial position is absolutely sound, and
even if Eliza's mother forced me to use her present to me to pay my
debt to her (L7 19_s._ 5_d._), though I might think it dishonourable on
her part, I should not be seriously inconvenienced. However, Eliza is
going early in December to suggest sauce-boats (plated). That is to
say, she may possibly mention them if any occasion arises.

MISS SAKERS

On Saturdays I always get back from the office early. This particular
Saturday afternoon I looked at our chimneys as I came down the street.
I thought it very queer, but, to make certain, as soon as I got into
the house I opened the drawing-room door. It was just as I thought. I
called up-stairs to Eliza, rather sharply.

She came down and said, "Well, what's the matter?"

I said, calmly, "The matter? Jane has apparently gone mad, that's all."
(Jane is the name of our servant.)

Eliza said that she did not think so, and asked me what the girl had
done.

I must say it made me feel rather sarcastic--it would have made any man
feel sarcastic. I said, "Oh, nothing. Merely lit the fire in the
drawing-room; and not only lit it, but piled coals on it. It is not
Sunday, so far as I am aware." It is our rule to have the drawing-room
fire lit on Sundays only. We are rather exclusive, and some other
people seem to be rather stuck-up, and between the two we do not have
many callers. If any one comes, it is always perfectly easy for Eliza
to say, "The housemaid has foolishly forgotten to light the fire here.
Shall we not step into the dining-room?" I hate to see anything like
waste.

"At this very moment," I added, "the drawing-room fire is flaming
half-way up the chimney. It seems we can afford to burn half a ton of
coals for nothing. I cannot say that I was aware of it."

"You _are_ satirical!" said Eliza. "I always know when you are being
satirical, because you move your eyebrows, and